Eric Ramsay speaks in his first interview on becoming new West Brom head coach

Albion President and Sporting Director Andrew Nestor added: “Eric’s unique coaching journey has equipped him with significant experience and a deep understanding of English football.

“Eric’s leadership qualities and attention to detail are key traits that stuck out to us, and he has demonstrated an ability to adapt his playing style to get the best from players at his disposal without compromising his football philosophy.

“His recent work as Head Coach at Minnesota over the past two seasons has reinforced this, having led a squad to perform well beyond expectations against clubs with greater budgets.

“Along with Eric, we are also pleased to have Dennis join him at The Albion. Dennis is an accomplished coach in British football with experience of the Championship and the football landscape in the Midlands. Together they have formed a strong alliance.”

Eric said: “I’d like to use the word clarity when describing my management style and the way I want to see us play.

“I want to be very clear with the players and I want the expectations to be very clear.

I want them to feel like it’s absolutely clear as to what is expected of them and how the team is set up to win games. I want the fans to be in our stadium knowing what to expect.

“I want to be very clear how we’re trying to win games and how we’re trying to move the club forward. I don’t want anyone to be uncertain in that sense.

“What that amounts to is an ability to control games with and without the ball. It will be a really important thing for us that we have a very strong idea of how control comes our way both with and without the ball.

“If we can get that balance right, what we’ll see is an incredibly competitive team that is capable of having a chance of winning every week and one that feels really sure of itself.

“That’s a big thing for me, that the team feels really sure of itself and has that level of confidence going into games. If the team can reach a really good version of itself week-to-week, then we will get everything that comes with that.

“It’s an incredibly proud day for me and my family to become the Head Coach of West Bromwich Albion.

“Anyone connected in any type of way to my football journey would recognise that this is a huge step. I’m delighted to be able to take it at a club that I feel so positively about in terms of prospects, standing, stature and everything that goes with being at a club that is woven into the fabric of English football and has such a rich history, as well as optimism for the future.

“When you weigh all that up, it’s difficult not to feel just incredibly positive about the situation that I’m in. I’m really proud to be here and I’m really proud to play, hopefully, a small part in the club moving forward.

“The timing of coming here was really important. It’s on the back of two full seasons in the MLS and having had the opportunity to have a bit of a break. I think anything that would have led to me leaving America and finding myself jumping straight back into a role in the midway point of an English season would have been tough.

“The timing was really good and really important for me to come into this job feeling like I’ve been able to have a break and a reset and refreshed with the energy that is going to be needed to meet this challenge.

Once a Loon 🫶

Thanks for everything, coach. pic.twitter.com/w4yn195Rng

— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) January 11, 2026

“I’ve spent the last week or so watching clips from this season in real detail. I feel like I know the squad as if it’s my own, which I think is a really important thing going into the really busy period that we find ourselves in front of now.

“I think it’s important to have my finger on what has gone on previously. What I want to achieve over the course of the coming days as we move into Friday’s game is to take that knowledge and push it towards what the team is going to look like moving forward. I don’t think it pays all that much to look at what has gone on before because I think everyone is starting from a fresh slate from this point onwards.

“I won’t cast any judgement until I really feel that environment from the players. I’m sure there will be a fresh sense of optimism as there always is in these situations, so I’ve just got to make sure that lasts.

“It’s undeniable that the squad is capable of more than where it is at the moment, and that’s not making reference to anything that has gone before in terms of how the team has played or how the team has been set up.

“Everyone who has watched a good chunk of this season will recognise there’s been an element of misfortune. People will also look at the group and the calibre of players and the squad that has been put together and feel that there’s only one way from this point onwards, and that is up.

“However, I would caveat that by saying that entails some real work and a real focus on the very short term, the minute-to-minute, the session-to-session and the day-to-day.

“This club has a huge history and there is expectation. There’s also a sense of optimism and direction, but, as I’ve previously said it doesn’t pay to look backwards or forwards too far.

“I’ve got to look at how we tackle tomorrow, and then the next day and then how we tackle Friday’s game. We need to trust everything we put into each session amounts to a really competitive team. I’ll let the players know how important that is.”

Here’s how fans reacted as Eric Ramsay speaks in his first interview on becoming the new West Brom head coach…

@JBooker48618: Gosh that was such a a well spoken confident interview I was glued all the way through he has clear vision on what he wants in terms of his team and how he wants the team to play and doesn’t have a ego really optimistic about him backing him 100%

@kilomedic: Speaks really well. Seems like he has his head screwed on. If he can just steady the ship and get us more consistent results and a better playing style I’d be really happy. Id be happy with mid table this season with a good plan to push for top 6 or even top 2 next season.

@Geordiebaggie: Speaks clearly and concisely.

@baggie1971: Very impressive , confident interview. Eric has a clear vision of what he wants, how he wants to achieve it and what he expects from everyone else to reach the desired goal. Looking forward to seeing this chapter unfold

@tobymid123: Speaks very well. Just finished the interview dn very refreshing to hear such honesty in the fact we’re dealing with here and now and not 10/15 games time. Let’s get behind this bloke Albion and give him the best support we can starting Friday night! Up the Baggies! 💙💙💙

@RyanPGl11: Really impressed, I have a good feeling about him. Buzzing for Friday night & the upcoming fixtures.

@8en1990: Easy to say but he comes across and speaks really well here, a genuine ‘student of the game’. Confidence in his ability without the ego, understands principles of what his club is built on. Sounds as if he has a plan and will pay attention to finer details. Sold 🔵⚪️ #wba

@EyaWeGew: Eric Ramsay comes across as a very intelligent bloke. Clear in his views, confident in how he speaks, and you can tell he genuinely believes in himself as a manager. He’s very articulate, which I really like. I’ve got a really good feeling about him and I’m genuinely excited to see how we set up and look under his leadership. #WBA

@sjpatel212: I’ll never read too much into an interview as ultimately it’s up to how he delivers results but on first impressions Ramsay comes across as articulate, intelligent and driven to succeed. Let’s hope it translates to on the pitch 🤞 #wba

@uber_foods: Very impressive interview. If the team performs with the intensity and clarity that he delivers an interview then we’ll be on to good things #wba

@LiamWBA98: Just finished watching this and lemme tell you something. He already speaks way better than Mason ever did. Friday might still be early days for the players to get to grips but I’m looking forward for this second half of the season. Really hope we can push on 💙🤍 #wba

@JDWBA2: This is what I like to hear, dont care too much about the way we play, I just want a clear style of play that we can get behind. Last 2 managers really havent given me that. Its felt tactically all over the place #wba